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WNBA Playoff Preview 2024: #1 New York Liberty vs. #4 Las Vegas Aces

Alex Chick III / WNBA / September 29, 2024

WNBA Playoff Preview Aces Liberty — Candice Ward-Imagn Images

WNBA Playoff Preview 2024: #1 New York Liberty vs. #4 Las Vegas Aces

The rematch we were all hoping we would get. Although we were hoping this was the WNBA Finals matchup, we just get this present a little earlier than expected since the Las Vegas Aces were the No. 4 seed. But these two teams have a lot of recent history together. The Liberty won the regular season series 3-0 against the Aces. However, that is not the recent history I’m talking about. Last year, the Aces beat the Liberty 3-1 in the 2023 WNBA Finals. Now, the New York Liberty want their revenge, and the Las Vegas Aces want their 3-peat. This could be THE matchup of the 2024 WNBA playoffs. Enough foreplay, let’s get into this 2nd round WNBA playoff preview.

Game	Date	Matchup	Time (EST)	TV
Game 1	Sept. 29	Aces @ Liberty	3 p.m.	ABC
Game 2	Oct. 1	Aces @ Liberty	TBD	TBD
Game 3*	Oct. 4	Liberty @ Aces	8:30 p.m.	ESPN2
Game 4*	Oct. 6	Liberty @ Aces	TBD	TBD
Game 5*	Oct. 8	Aces @ Liberty	TBD	ESPN2

What we know about the Liberty:

Starters:

Leonie Fiebich

Jonquel Jones

Key Reserves:

Kayla Thorton

Courtney Vandersloot

First, we have the New York Liberty in this WNBA playoff preview. The Liberty, led by Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu, were the best team in the WNBA throughout the 2024 season. They made quick work of the Atlanta Dream in the first round of the 2024 WNBA playoffs, winning the series 2-0. In that series, Ionescu went OFF. She averaged 26.5 PPG and 7 APG during those two games. She was the best player on the floor. This tremendously helps Breanna Stewart, who is the Liberty’s best player objectively. Breanna Stewart would be the MVP of this league if it wasn’t for A’ja Wilson, however, she is the 2nd best player in the W. She didn’t have to show it with Sabrina Ionescu taking over the series, but let’s not get it twisted, Breanna Stewart is dangerous when given the opportunity.

Leonie Fiebich is figuring it out just at the right time for this Liberty team. She was the 3rd leading scorer for this Liberty team. At 6-foot-4, she provides the Liberty with more height and length as she started over the Courtney Vandersloot. While her height doesn’t yet translate to production on the boards, she can flat-out score. Her ability to stretch the floor at her size is deadly. I would not be surprised to see the Liberty go back to her in the starting lineup.

Jonquel Jones is going to do a lot of the dirty work in the paint, she will rebound and score from in close. With Stewie, Sabrina, and now Fiebich able to stretch the floor, it allows Jones to go to work with a lot of 1v1 action. If someone dares to help, there are scorers on the outside that will make you pay.

Betnijah Laney-Hamilton does well to help facilitate this offense, picking her spots to score as well. She and Ionescu do well to distribute the ball all around. Everyone on this team has a role and it shows with how in sync they are with each other. They aren’t the #1 seed for no reason. They’re coming out for blood and are here to ruin the Aces’ chances at a 3-peat.

What we know about the Aces:

What to know about the Las Vegas Aces:

Notable starters:

G: Kelsey Plum
G: Jackie Young
G: Chelsea Gray

F: Kiah Stokes
C: A’ja Wilson

Rotational players:

G: Tiffany Hayes
F: Alysha Clark

Next, we have the Las Vegas Aces in this WNBA playoff preview. This team is one of the best in the WNBA. While they haven’t dominated as much as they are used to in the last two years, this team should still be feared in the playoffs. Anytime you have the best player in the WNBA on your roster, you should be feared as a title contender. A’ja Wilson is unstoppable, her and the Aces made quick work of the Storm, a formidable opponent, in 2 games.

The guard play on this team (Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young) is elite. Both of them can score and distribute the ball with ease. Chelsea Gray also helps facilitate the ball. With those 3 on the court, you’re not sure who’s getting the ball. All will look to A’ja Wilson to score, but Plum and Young are also buckets themselves. Tiffany Hayes was also a bucket in their 2 game series against the Storm. When all 4 of these guards are rocking, this offense can be very hard to stop.

This team is 8th in rebounding in the W. The only sufficient rebounders are Klah Stokes–that’s her only role on this team–and A’ja Wilson. Are we sure that will be enough going forward? This team lacks depth, I fear if one of their players gets an injury, this team might be donezo. Their guard play and A’ja Wilson will also keep them in the game, but will it be enough to win another championship? That’s the question we’re going to find out.

Biggest questions:

How does the Aces counter the length the Liberty have?

The New York Liberty are 2nd in the W in rebounding as a team this year. This includes being the 5th ranked offensive rebounding team and the Aces being last in offensive rebounds. As well all know, and Matt Hanifan always reminds us: Rebounding wins championships. Offensive rebounds offer more chances on offense, and for the Liberty’s offense, that is bad news bears for the Aces. The problem is that the Liberty have much more length at their disposal than the Aces. Outside of Wilson and Stokes, Jackie Young averaged 8 rebounds against the Dream but everyone else averaged less than 5 rebounds a game in the 2 game series with the Dream. That won’t work as well with Jones, Stewie, Fiebich (who could be more active on the boards this series), and Nyara Sabally (who could see more minutes this series). All players are 6’4 or taller, the Aces just don’t have that type of length to counter it, they will have to make the most out of their opportunities.

Will the Aces guard play be too much for the Liberty?

As mentioned, the Aces guard play was on point against the Storm. When Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, and Tiffany Hayes are all in sync, this team can be hard to stop. As I asked the question before, how will the Aces counter the Liberty’s length? How will the the Liberty counter the Aces guard play? Sabrina Ionescu and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton can play with any of the guards in the league, however, the Liberty simply don’t have the guard depth that the Aces have. How they will manage against that will be interesting to see.

A’ja Wilson or Breanna Stewart?

One of the best matchups in the WNBA. Watching Breanna Stewart and MVP A’ja Wilson go at it for at least two games is going to be awesome basketball. I think the Liberty are a better team, but A’ja Wilson is the better player. Watching how Stewie goes at Wilson will be fun as the Liberty all try to limit Wilson.